Ralph Lauren to be honoured for Outstanding Achievement

Ralph Lauren will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award in Fashion at The Fashion Awards 2016.

The British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced that the American designer will be honoured for his “invaluable contribution” to the fashion industry at the upcoming awards ceremony, to be held on 5 December (16) at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Lauren launched his brand in 1967 with a line of men’s ties, and has since gone onto build a family of brands which encompass his classic suiting and preppy sportswear, including his famed classic polo shirt.

BFC chairman Natalie Massenet said Lauren is deserving of the accolade, due to his acumen as an exemplary designer and businessman.

“He has helped to define an era in both American and global fashion with his singular vision; I know that most of us would say he has inspired us immeasurably,” she said in a statement.

“He has built an outstanding legacy and I look forward to celebrating him for years to come.”

As well as designing for celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Diane Keaton, the 77-year-old has also outfitted some of the world’s most successful sportsmen and women, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and the Wimbledon Championships.

He also supports philanthropic causes through his Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, including the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research and the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care in Harlem, New York.